Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-06-16
A GHOST STORY.
A TALE FROM KENTUCKY REMINDING ONE
OF TAN O'SHANTER'S WITCHES.
The Legend Of the Dead Lands" and Some Recent
GhOstly Manifestations Of Blood Curding
Character-What Reputable Citizen
Saw at Midnight

hISSELlNlLLE, june lo.-LoSau CUM
ty for several months past seems 10 have
been the favored field for the operations
agencies. The first mani
festation sufficient to cause any alarm
was at the humbled yelling of Mr., j.
H. Glideweli, which nestled among the
hills of "COOnrage." SO persistent was
the ghost or spOOk that the unfortunate
inmates of the little home were forced to
leave and seek other shelter, but even in
their new quarters they were harrassed
well nigh to distraction, until finally the
seemingly or really spiritual happenings
ceased as suddenly as they had begun, his
gbOstship leaving no record of its race and
no history of its country. But that it had
been there and its presence made painfully
manifest the best men Of that section will
testify, and that its tame extended far and
near and on its account that whole eoun-
try-side was aroused TO the highest pitch
of excitement the whole country will bear
witness.
And now from the southern borders of
the county comes tale of ghOstly vista
tiOns thrilling and gruesOme beyond con-
ception. Not tar from where the Clarks-
vile and MasOn's Mill roads Inter
sect each other there lies a strip of low,
moldy land about mile in width and
three miles long, the greater part of which
is covered with water to the depth of from
six inches to twOfeet. 1t is full Of dangerous
quagmires and is known by the suggestive
name of dead Lands" On its eastern
side some two miles from the road leading
to Springfield, Tenn, there stands an old,
odd looking stone structure which has the
appearance of having been built a century.
The tradition is-and it is generally &C
eepted ~ true-that many years ago when
civilization in this section of the country
was in its infancy, the land which is now
mostly under water and several feet
below the surrounding country was
u beautifully wooded plain covered
with magnificent forest trees No
spot was more inviting or beautifully stu
ated, rs then it was rs much above the
surrounding country rs it is now below it.
Upon this spot party of emigrants from
the busy and burdened East stopped their
train and pitched their tents, finally con-
GLIDING to remain. Among them was a
man who protested to have divine reye-
latiOn, in which he was told that TO him
and all who should believe in HIM and
accept his teachings should be given the
power to triumph over death, and that
when the allotted time on earth should
end they would be transported, soul aud
body, to a land Of immortal youth. He
was the leader, as he wss the father con-
lessor, OF the flock which he had gathered
around him. By his efforts and under bis
directions there was built the rude, though
substantial, stone building before referred
to, in which each night and morning they
were wont to worship. The building is
low and narrow, and in one end are still
to be seen the crumbling remains Of what
appears to have been a rude altar Just in
side the doorway in an arch cut out Of solid
stone hangs a massive brazen bel, which of
all the ancient pile seems to have stood
best the ravages of time. After few years,
passed chiefly in holy duties, there sud-
denly descended upon the strange band a
so dire as to leave in its wake a
wreck TO stand for all time as warning to
future generations. While they were en-
gagged one evening at their accustomed de-
yotional exercises, there commenced low
sound, the stone building began
TO culver and rock from side TO side like
storm-toSsed vessel. Seized with terror, the
worshipes fed panie-stricken from the
place. The shock ceased after a while
only to be succeeded later on by another,
and then another, throughout the night
When day dawned terrible sight met the
gaze. All vegetable growth was dead and
parched, as if it had been visited by
severe drouth. The trees which yesterday
had been waving in full pride OF summer
veTdure were almost completely stripped
Of their foliage and were withered and
dying. The church, though severely
shaken, was still intact, bat leaned con-
from IFS natural position. The
primitive dwellings which had been hasti-
" constructed Of LOGS, were totally demol- |
ished, and the stricken colony, sickened |
with the sight, departed as suddenly and !
silently Is they lad come. The surface of |
the earth had ALLAN 20 much during she